Moses Commissioned
October 16, 2025
Commentary
After hearing God’s call, Moses gave another excuse for not wanting to be God’s spokesman. He said, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you?’” (v. 1). God answered with a simple but powerful question: “What is that in your hand?” (v. 2). It was only a shepherd’s staff, an ordinary stick used for guiding sheep, yet in God’s hands it became a tool of power, proof, and divine authority. When Moses threw it on the ground, it became a snake; when he picked it up again, it became a staff (vv. 3–4). This showed that even the simplest objects can become powerful instruments when offered to God in faith (v. 5).
Next, God told Moses to put his hand inside his cloak. When he took it out, it was diseased with leprosy. When he put it back, it became clean again (vv. 6–7). This miracle showed that only God can cleanse and prepare a person to serve Him fully. Without His healing touch, our hands are unfit and power-less for His work.
Finally, God told Moses to pour water from the Nile onto the ground, where it turned to blood (vv. 8–9). This third sign looked ahead to God’s mighty judgment on Egypt and proved His power over nature, nations, and every human enemy.
Even after these miracles, Moses still hesitated. He said, “I am not eloquent… I am slow of speech and tongue” (v. 10). The Lord replied, “Who gave human beings their mouths?… Is it not I, the Lord? I will help you speak and will teach you what to say” (vv. 11–12). Still Moses begged God to send some-one else (v. 13). The Lord grew angry but allowed Aaron, Moses’ brother, to speak for him (vv. 14–16). Later, Aaron’s weakness caused great trouble (Exodus 32; Numbers 12). Yet God reminded Moses to take the staff and move for-ward in faith, trusting His strength, not his own (v. 17).
Application
When God calls me to serve, do I focus more on my weaknesses than on His power? Like Moses, I can make excuses or trust God to use what’s in my hand. Where am I resisting His call because I feel afraid or inadequate? This week, how will I take a step of obedience and let God show His power through me?
Exodus 4:1–17 (NET)
1 Moses answered again, “And if they do not believe me or pay attention to me, but say, ‘The Lord has not appeared to you’?” 2 The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.” 3 The Lord said, “Throw it to the ground.” So he threw it to the ground, and it became a snake, and Moses ran from it. 4 But the Lord said to Moses, “Put out your hand and grab it by the tail”—so he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand — 5 “that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.”
6 The Lord also said to him, “Put your hand into your robe.” So he put his hand into his robe, and when he brought it out—there was his hand, leprous like snow! 7 He said, “Put your hand back into your robe.” So he put his hand back into his robe, and when he brought it out from his robe—there it was, restored like the rest of his skin! 8 “If they do not believe you or pay attention to the former sign, then they may believe the latter sign. 9 And if they do not believe even these two signs or listen to you, then take some water from the Nile and pour it out on the dry ground. The water you take out of the Nile will become blood on the dry ground.”
10 Then Moses said to the Lord, “O my Lord, I am not an eloquent man, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant, for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.”
11 The Lord said to him, “Who gave a mouth to man, or who makes a person mute or deaf or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 So now go, and I will be with your mouth and will teach you what you must say.”
13 But Moses said, “O my Lord, please send anyone else whom you wish to send!”
14 Then the Lord became angry with Moses, and he said, “What about your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he can speak very well. Moreover, he is coming to meet you, and when he sees you he will be glad in his heart.
15 “So you are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth. And as for me, I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you both what you must do. 16 He will speak for you to the people, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were his God. 17 You will also take in your hand this staff, with which you will do the signs.”
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